#18 - Daylight Saving Time: What Exactly Are We Saving?

Twice a year, daylight saving time takes center stage as we talk about it, worry about it, plan for it, and either rejoice or renounce its very existence. Now, as the United States government debates whether or not to legislate an end to the practice, let's take some time to explore the topic. In this episode we will:

• explore the origins of daylight saving time and its particularly unique history in the United States
• understand the reasons for not only implementing the practice of daylight saving time as well as the reasons why it has persisted
• differentiate the various aspects of daylight saving time and standard time
• touch on the actual energy savings created (or not) by daylight saving time
• probe the public's sentiment for keeping DST or adopting permanent standard time
• evaluate the health risks (and sleep risks) of the biannual changes (as well as a potential intrinsic risk of DST itself) and why we should adopt permanent standard time
• list some possible strategies for lessening the impact of the transition

Produced by: Maeve Winter

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Thanks for listening and sleep well!